Wednesday, January 23, 2013

On February 1st, there will be big-doings at Grand Central Terminal. The kick-off for the year long centennial celebration will be underway and I will definitely be there to check it out.

In honor of the 100th birthday of GST, I created this machine pieced quilted wall hanging. I started off with a logo on an old shopping bag that I had at the studio. I then found a wonderful rotogravure book of old New York buildings and places, published in 1914, and used the 2 images of the exterior and interior of Grand Central when it was newly built. Adding to the mix is an image of the New York Central train - the whole reason for GST in the first place. Included also is the new logo that was designed for the centennial. And lastly, I added one of my photographs of the majestic sculpture crowning the top of this grand edifice.

When it came to choosing the fabrics, I had a lot of fun thinking and then finding just the right ones. There is the blue-aqua of the ceiling with gold flecks, the black of the trains, a wonderful William Morris print that captured the beige marble tones as well as other interesting patterned fabrics.

I am so grateful that Grand Central did not meet the same fate as the original Pennyslvania Station and was spared the wrecking ball. This beautiful beaux arts building with its wonderful flourishes and architectural detailing, houses the pulse and energy of the arriving and departing trains along with the hordes of commuters it serves daily. It is indeed a treasure of New York City. Happy 100th Birthday Grand Central!

About Me

A born and raised New Yorker, I have been painting the urban landscape for the past 40+ years, with a real fascination and affection for the architecture of this great city. My work captures "what is here today that might be gone tomorrow". I created this blog to share info about my paintings and it is a "work in progress" evolving over time.
I will also be adding links to other artist blogs and those that focus on New York.
If you have any questions about the paintings, please contact me at SJFStudio@aol.com. You can see more samples of my work at my website www.sharonflorinart.com.
Thanks for visiting!